Angus Reid Poll: Canadians Support Unions, But Many Think They Are Too Political

[TORONTO – May 1, 2008] – Canadians perceive labour unions as an essential part of our society but think they have become too entangled in political activities, a new Angus Reid Strategies poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample, more than half of all respondents (59%) say labour unions are a necessary and important part of Canadian society, and 69 per cent think they effectively improve the salaries and working conditions of employees.

However, 49 per cent of respondents say unions have too much influence in Canadian life, while 25 per cent believe they have about the right amount of influence. The vast majority of respondents (72%) consider unions are too involved in political activities.

Most respondents are not at ease with workers exercising their right to strike. At least 83 per cent of Canadians say emergency workers and health workers should “some of the time” or “never” go on strike, while at least 70 per cent feel the same way about public school teachers, public transit employees, city and municipal workers, and federal civil servants. Employees in the telecommunications industry and provincial civil servants have slightly more leeway on this issue.

Despite some discomfort, Canadians are not in favour of changing existent legislation regarding labour unions. Two-thirds of respondents (67%) think Canada has adequate labour laws, both at the provincial and federal levels, to protect workers. In addition, 46 per cent of Canadians think the country should not change its Labour Code to prohibit employers from hiring so-called strike-breakers (replacement workers that perform the duties of employees who are on strike or locked out).

The provincial breakdown shows that more people in Manitoba and Saskatchewan (82%) than elsewhere see unions as being too involved in politics. Quebec (74%), Ontario (73%) and Alberta (72%) are behind. Notably, respondents in Manitoba and Saskatchewan (66%) are also the most prone to say that unions are an essential part of Canadian society.

Atlantic Canadians (57%) are the least inclined to say that Canadian labour laws are adequate and effectively protect workers. On the other hand, Quebec holds the highest number of respondents (75%) who think that labour unions successfully improve the salaries and working conditions of Canadian employees.

In Ontario—where a brief transit strike occurred this past weekend in Toronto—more than half of respondents (55%) think transit workers should never exercise their right to strike, and 26 per cent say they should only do it sometimes. These numbers are higher than in any other region.

A breakdown of the results by income reveals that a high salary goes hand in hand with the perception that labour unions have too much influence in Canadian life. While 43 per cent of respondents living in households earning $50,000 or less see unions as having too much influence, the number hikes to 48 per cent amongst respondents making between $50,000and $99,000 a year, and to 57 per cent in the subsequent income bracket (households earning $100,000 a year or more).

Related releases:

07.30.07
Angus Reid Poll: Canadians see unions as essential, but have little support for strikes
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